Stamp-affixing machine.



No. 746,627. v PATENTED DEG. 8, 1903. S. 'PARMBR.

STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 12, 1902.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTBD DEC. a, 1903. s. FARMER. STAMP AFPIXING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 12, 1902.

6 SHEETS-$111111?! 2.

N0 MODEL.

PATBNTED DEC. s, 1903. s. FARMERV. STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV.12, 1902.

- 5 SHEETS-SHBET 3.

N0 MODEL.

THE NORRIS vzrzns ca, PHDYOLITHO WASHINGTOM ac.

PATBNTED DEG. 8,1903.

s. FARMBR. STAMP APFIXING MACHINE; APPLICATION FILED NOV.12, 1902.

5 8HEETS-8HEET 5.

N0 MODEL.

a? o \Y L UNITE STATES Patented December 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL FARMER, OF PORTLAND, OREGON, ASSIGNOR TO A. F. FLEGEL, OF

I a PORTLAND, OREGON.

STAM PrAFFIXlNG MACHIN E.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 746,627, dated December 8, 1 903.

Application filed November 12, 1902. Serial No. 131,014. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL FARMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portland, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Stamp- Affixing Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in machines of that class employed for affixing postage-stamps, labels, and the like to envelope and packages.

The principal object of the invention is to construct a simple and inexpensive machine intowhich a large number of sheets of stamps may be fed and thence cut into strips and the stamps in each strip automatically out and attached to the envelop or package.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of stamp feeding mechanism by which the stamps may be posi tively fed without danger of tearing or mutilation and by which the stamps will be held at the completion of each feeding movement in proper position under a severing-knife.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists inthe novel'construction and arrangementof parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minordetails of the'structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a stamp or label affixing machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side eleva tion of the same, the casing being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine, a portion of the casing being shown in section. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the rear end of the machine. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. 6 is a similar view on theline 6 6 of Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional elevation of the machine on the line 7 7 of Fig.2. Fig. 8 isa longitudinal sectional elevation of aportion of the machine on the line 8 8 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a detailed sectional view of feed. Fig. 11 is an elevation illustrating the connection between the recording-dials. Fig. 12 isa detail View of a modified form of feeding-roller. Fig. 13 is a detail View of a portion of the atomizing apparatus.

Similar numerals of reference are em ployed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The machine is constructed in such manneras to receive any desired num ber. of sheets of stamps, the adjacent edges of the sheets beingconnected together in any suitable manner to form a continuous sheet, which may be wound upon a suitable feed-roller. The sheet is fed forward to an extent equal to the length of the stamp, a strip of stamps being advanced under a cutting knife and severed from the main sheet, after which the strip is fed laterally to an extent equal to the width of a stamp at each operation. The stamps in the strip are successively severed and forced against the previously-moistened surface of an envelop or package.

' adapted to guiding-openings in the standards and normally pressed in an upward direction by compression-springs 15, surrounding a pair of bolts 16, which are provided at their upper ends with hearing sheaves or boxes 17 for engagement with the lower portion of the spindle. The spindle carries a plurality of milled or corrugated feed-rollers 18, which are held against the under sides of the stamps and act, in conjunction with the main feedroller 13, to efiect a positive feed of the sheet of stamps when the feed-roller is actuated. In order to regulate the pressure between the two feed-rollers, the bolts 16 are threaded at ioc their lower ends and are provided with adjustable nuts 19 to increase or decrease the efiective action of the springs.

The two standards are provided with slotted guides 20 for the reception of the reduced end portions of the roller 21, on which the sheets of stamps are wound, the stamps resting by gravity on a smooth bed-plate 22,1eading between the feed-rollers, but terminating at a point in advance of the point of contact of the rollers. After passing through the feed-rollers the stamps are fed past a cutting edge 23 to a point immediately over a receiving-trough 24, forming a part of the fixed frame and intowhich the strips of stamps are successively fed and then discharged longitudinally of the trough.

The frame is provided at one side of the trough with bearing-blocks 25, held in position by screws 26 and adjustable from and toward the frame by suitable screws 28,which pass through the blocks and bear against the side of the fixed frame. These blocks carry a rod 29, on which is mounted an angular bar 30, adapted to fit between and form the top of the trough 24. The bar 30 carries a cutting-knife 31, which coacts with the cutting edge 23 to sever the strips of stamps as the latter are consecutively fed to proper position. The trough is connected by one or more links 32 to a rocker-arm 33, secured to the rockshaft 12, the latter forming the actuating means for raising and lowering the bar and knife.

The rear end of the feed-roller spindle extends out through a guiding-opening in the rear standard 11 and carries a ratchet-disk 34, having a number of peripheral teeth 35, adapted to be successively engaged by a spring-pressed pawl 36, pivoted to a lever 37, which is loosely mounted on the end of the feed-roller spindle. The lever 37 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 38, the opposite end of which is slotted for the reception of a pin or screw 39, carried bya rocker-arm 40, secured to the rock-shaft 12, and said rocker-arm is connected-by a link 41 to a pivotally-mounted hand-lever 42, by which motion is imparted to the rock-lever and from thence to the angular bar 30 and the pawlcarrying lever 37, the slotted connection of the rock-lever with the link 38 permitting a preliminary movement of the angular bar 30 before the pawl 36 starts the feed-roller into operation. In order to lock the feedroller at the completion of each feeding movement, 2. tooth-engaging pawl 43 is pivoted to the frame and forced into engagement with successive teeth of the disk 34 by means of a spring 44. The locking-pawl is provided with a laterally-projecting cam-shaped block 45, which is engaged by a peripheral cam 46 on the lever 37 after the bar 30 has been depressed and serves to move the pawl 43 to disengaged position in readiness for the next feeding movement. The hand-lever is provided with an adjustable screw 48, which comes into contact with a portion of the bedplate to limit the downward movement of the lever, while the upward movementis stopped by an adjustable screw 49, carried by a standard 50.

The bed of the trough 24 is extended toward the front end of the machine and terminates at a point in horizontal alinement with a stamp-discharge orifice 51, formed in a cutting-plate 52, the latter being secured to the end of the frame and held in place by screws 53, adj usting-screws 54 being provided to permit of the movement of the cutter-plate to a greater or less distance from the end of the frame and the proper adjustment thereof with respect to a vertically-movable cutterblade 55, carried by a presser-block 56. The bed of the trough is cut away for the admission of the peripheral portions of two milled or corrugated feeding-rollers 57 and 58, the roller 57 having its axis in vertical alinement with the axis of a mating roller 59, journaled in the angular bar 30 and extending through an opening therein in order that it may rest on the upper surface of the strip of stamps immediately after the latter is cut from the sheet. The roller 58 is arranged in vertical alinement with the axis of a feed-roller 60, adapted to vertical guiding-grooves 61 in a portion of the fixed frame and normally held in contact with the periphery of the roller 58 by a pair of springs 62. The supports for the roller may be secured to or formed integral with the frame proper and are extended inwardly from each side of the trough in order to engage the upper surface of the stamps near the opposite edges of the strip and prop erly guide said strip through the dischargeorifice 51.

The spindles of the rollers 57 and 58 are provided with gears 64, connected by an intermediate idler 65, and an intermittent rotative movement is imparted to the spindle of the roller 57 and transmitted to the roller 58 in order to preserve the continuity of the feed, so that'as the final stamp of one strip is being fed by the rollers 58 and 60 the end of a freshly-cut strip will be similarly fed by the rollers 57 and 59.

The spindle 65 of the roller 57 extends out through a suitable bearing-opening in the frame and carries a toothed disk 66, adapted to be engaged by a pawl 67, pivotally mounted on a lever 68, the latter being fulcrumed on the spindle 65. The lever 68 is connected by a link 69 to one end of a lever 70, fulcrumed on a fixed stud 71, said lever being provided near its outer end with a number of openings for the reception of,a connectingpin of the link in order that the extent of feed movement may be properly adjusted. At the completion of each feeding movement a spring-pressed pawl 73 is forced into locking engagement with the disk 66, the toothengaging portion of the pawl being of a length sufficient to come into contact with the adjacent surfaces of two of the disk-teeth, and

thus lock said disk from movement in'either direction. The pawl is provided with a laterally-projected block 74, and on the lever 68 is a cam-face 75, which engages with the block and raises the pawl from tooth-engaging position each time the pawl-carrying lever returns to its initial position, the locking-pawl being held disengaged until the completion of the next movement of the feeding-pawl and then automatically locking the disk while the lever returns.

The presser-block 56 is carried by a vertically-guided rod 77, which projects above the top of the frame andis provided with an antifriction roller or stud 78, fitting against the curved face 79 of a hand-lever 80, the latter being fulcrumed to a standard 81 and serving at each operation to feed the strip of stamps forward, to sever a stamp from the strip, and press the same into contact with an envelop or package, to operate a moisten.

ing device, and to actuate a registering and alarm mechanism. The presser-block is provided on its lower face with a suitable pad of felt or similar material and is normally held in elevated position by a coiled com pression-spring 61, encircling the rod 77 and hearing at one end against a fixed part of the frame and at the opposite end against a block or collar 83, adj ustably secured to said rod. Projecting from one side of the block or-collar 83 is a pin or screw 84, adapted to, a curved slot 85, formed in one end of the lever 70, the shape of said slot being such that during the beginning of the downward movement of the block the outer end of the lever or that end connected to the pawl-carrying lever 68 will be actuated to an extent sufficient to accomplish a feeding movement of the rollers, and thereafter the pin 84 will remain in contact with the straight wall of a finger 86 on said lever during the depression of the rod 77 and the presser block to sever a stamp and press the same into contact with an envelop or package. On the returning movement of the rod 77 the feed-rollers will be held stationary so long as the pin 84 remains in contact with the finger 86; but as soon as the pin enters the curved'slot the pawl-carrying lever 68 is started on its return movement and the parts again assume initial position in readiness for a subsequent operation.

The envelop or package to receive the stamps or labels is placed on a bed or table 90 below the presser-block, and at the end of the frame, immediately under and tot-he rear of the cutter-plate 52 is an opening 91 for the reception of atomizer-tubes 92 and 93, the tube 92 extending to a waterreservoir 94 and the air-tube 93 being connected to an airpump 95, arranged within the upper front portion of'the casing. The air-pump may be of any desired construction and in the present instance is shown in the form of an expansible bellows mounted on a supportingcup 96 and adapted to be engaged by a corn pression-finger disposed at one end of a lever 97, mounted on a pin or stud 98. One end of the lever 97 is slotted, as indicated at 99, for the reception of a pin or antifriction-roller 100, carried by one end of a rock-lever 101, which is secured to the stud or rock-shaft 71 and is operated at each movement of the lever 70, the parts being so arranged as to effect a sudden compressive movement of the bellows and eject a quantity of water on the envelop or package resting on they platform 90. .A portion of the atomizer is illustrated in detail in Fig. 13, the water-tube 92 terminating in a nozzle and the air-tube 93 being provided with a small opening through which air may be directed to cross the end of the nozzle and atomize the fluid as itis drawn through the opening of said nozzle.

In order to register the number of stamps affixed by the machine, a suitable indicatingdial is placed on the front end of the frame, and at the center of the dial is a spindle 110, carrying a suitable hand or pointer 111. At a point inside the frame the spindle carries a ratchet-wheel 112, with which engages a pawl 113, carried by the block 83, the pawl engaging one of the ratchet-teeth at each depression of the rod 77 and registering the number of stamps used by the machine. The dial over which travels the pointer 111 is the units-dial, and at one side thereof is a tensdial 114, having a spindle 115, connected to a ratchet-wheel 116, provided with ten teeth, one of which is engaged at each revolution of the ratchet-wheel 112 by a pin 117, projected from said ratchet-wheel, the ratchet-Wheel 116 being turned to the extent of one-tenth of a revolution and registering the number of complete rotations of the units-disk. The spindle has a hand or pointer 118 for indicating the extent of movement of the ratchet-wheel, and above the ratchet-wheel 116 is a hundreds ratchet-wheel 119, the teeth of which are engaged by a pin 120, carried by the ratchet-wheel116. The ratchet-wheel 119 is provided with a spindle 121, having a hand or pointer 122, adapted to travel over a dial 123, so that the machine may register up to one thousand stamps.

The machine is ordinarily used in connection with postage-stamps, where each strip from a sheet of stamps contains ten stamps, and to notify the operator when a strip is exhausted I preferably employ a gong or hell 125, which is actuated by a suitable hammer 126, having its inner end in the path of travel of the pin 117,-projecting from the face of the ratchet-wheel 112.

In operating the machine the edge of a sheet of stamps is introduced between the feedrollers 13 and 14 and the hand-lever42 is operated. On starting the upward movement of the hand-lever the rock-shaft 12 is first slightly rotated owing to the pin-and-slot connection between the rock-lever 40 and the link 38. This serves to slightly elevate the angle-bar 30 and separate the cutting-knives 23 and 31. On continuing the upward movement of the lever the pawl 36 engages one of the teeth of the disk 34 and rotates said disk and the feed-roller to an extent sufficient to feed a strip of stamps past the knife 23. After the lever comes in contact with the upper stop 49 it is immediately depressed, the feed-roller being held locked by the engagement of the locking-pawl 43 with one of the teeth of the ratchet-disk. As the downward movement of the lever is completed the cutting-knives sever the strip from the sheet and the locking-pawl is moved to releasing position to permit a subsequent operation of the feed-roller. The strip of stamps in the trough 24 is engaged between the feed-rollers 5'7 and 59, and at the starting of the downward movement of the hand-lever said rollers are turned to feed the strip of stamps in the direction of the discharge-outlet, and at the same time the bellows or other air-compressing device is actuated and a quantity of water forced on the surface of the envelops or package supported on the table 90. As the downward movement of the hand-lever 8O continues the stamp projecting beyond the mouth of the discharge-orifice is severed and pressed into contact with the moistened surface by the presser-block 56, and during this downward movement the indicator is actuated through the pawl 113 and ratchet-wheel 112. The several parts are returned to initial position by means of the compressionspring 81.

The various parts of the mechanism are arranged within a casing which, as best shown in Fig. 1, is formed of any suitable material and is provided with one or more transparent panels 130, through which the action of the machine may be observed.-

The construction of the main feedingroller 13 may be modified in the manner shown in Fig. 12, a plurality of small feedingrollers 13 being secured to a central spindle or shaft in order to reduce the surface-contact between the stamps and feed-roller.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination of astamp-affixing machine, of areceiving-trough, means for engaging and feeding asheet of stamps and adapted to project successive strips or rows of stamps over said trough, a movable bar forming a top or cover for the trough and having a cutting edge for severing the strips of stamps and depositing the same in the trough, means for feeding the severed strip longitudinally of said trough, and means for severing single stamps from the strip and pressing the same into contact with the surface to which they are to be attached.

2. The combination in a stamp-affixing machine, of a receiving-trough, a cutting-knife forming one side of the trough, a movable bar forming the top of the trough and serving to hold a strip of stamps down inproper position within the trough, a cutting-knife carried by said bar, means for engaging and automatically feeding a sheet of stamps and adapted to project successive strips or rows of stamps beyond the cutting edge of the trough, means for actuating said bar and severing the strips of stamps, means for feeding the severed strip longitudinally of said trough, and means for successively severing single stamps from the strip and pressing the same into contact with the surfaces to which they are to be attached.

3. The combination in a stamp-affixing machine, of a severing-knife, an operating-lever connected thereto, a feeding-roller for engaging and feeding a strip of stamps in the direction of the knife, a feeding mechanism operatively connected to said lever and serving to impart rotative movement to the roller du ring theinoperative movement of the knife, there being a loose connection between the lever and the feeding mechanism to permit slight upward movement of the knife in advance of the starting of the feeding movement, and means for positively locking said roller during the cutting movement of the knife.

4. The combination in a stamp-affixing machine, of a cutting-knife, a roller adapted to engage and feed the stamps to said knife, a toothed disk carried by the roller, a disk-actuating pawl, a pivoted lever carrying said pawl, a disk-locking pawl, a cam carried by the pawl-actuating lever and adapted to engage the disk-locking pawl and move the same to releasing position, a knife-actuating lever, and means connecting the knife-actuating lever to the pawl-actuatinglever.

5. The combination in a stamp-affixing machine, of the strip-receiving trough, a fixed cutting edge forming one wall of the trough, a pivoted bar forming the top of the trough, a cutting-knife carried by the bar and coacting with said cutting edge, a roller adapted to engage a sheet of stamps to feed successive strips beyond said cutting edge, a toothed disk secured to said roller, a pawl-carrying lever, a pawl supported therebyand adapted to engage the teeth of the disk, a disk-locking pawl having a laterally-projecting block or finger, a cam supported by the pawl-carrying lever and adapted to engage said block or finger to release the locking-pawl, a rockshaft having an operative connection with the pivoted bar, a rock-lever secured to said shaft, an operatinglever having a linked connection with said rock-lever, and a slotted link connecting the pawl-carrying lever to the rock-lever, substantially as specified.

6. The combination in a stamp-affixing machine, of a trough adapted to receive successive strips or rows of stamps from a sheet, a movable top bar for said trough, verticallyalining feed-rollers carried respectively by the trough and bar and separable to permit the entrance of a strip of stamps, and means for imparting an intermittent feeding movement to the lower or trough-carried roller.

7. The combination in a stamp-affixing machine, of a trough adapted to receive sncces sive strips or rows of stamps from a sheet, and provided with a recessed bed, an intermittently-operated feed-roller projecting through the recess of the bed and adapted to engage the lower side of a strip of stamps, a movable bar forming the top of said lid or trough, and a roller carried by said bar and adapted to engage the upper surface of the strip of stamps at a point in vertical alinement with the lower feed-roller.

8. The combination in a stamp-affixing machine, of means for engaging and feeding a sheet of stamps, a trough for the reception of successive rows or strips of stamps from the sheet, a movable bar forming the top or cover of the trough, a cutting-knife carried by said bar and adapted to sever the rows or strips of stamps, and vertically-alining stamp-feeding rollers carried by both the trough and the bar members, said rollers being separated I from each other to permit the entrance of a strip or row of stamps when the bar is elevated.

9. The combination of a stamp-affixing machine, of a recessed bed for the support of the stamps, feeding-rollers projecting through the recessed portions of the bed for contact with the lower surface of the stamps, gearing connections between the feed-rollers, upper rollers adapted to engage the upper surface of the stamps and hold the same in contact with the lower feeding-rollers, a pivoted support carrying the upper rollers and movable with the rollers to leave the recessed bed clear for the insertion of the stamps, a ratchet feeding mechanism for imparting intermittent rotative movement to one of said rollers, and means for actuating the ratchet feed.

10. Thecombination inastamp-affixingmachine, of a vertically-movable presser-blook having a stamp-severing knife, a rod carrying said block, a stamp-feeding roller for moving the stamps in the direction of the knife, a ratchet feed mechanism connected to the roller, and including a pivoted pawlcarrying lever, a lever fulcrumed to a fixed point and having a linked connection with the pawl-carrying lever, said lever being provided with a cam-groove and finger, and a pin or roller carried by the rod and adapted to engage both the cam-groove and the finger to effect operative movement of the pawlcarrying lever at the beginning and at the end of the movement of the rod, the finger and pin serving to hold said pawl-carrying lever inoperative during the cutting of the stamp and the movement of the same against the surface to which it is to be attached.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL FARMER.

Witnesses:

J. P. FARMER, A. F. FLEGEL. 

